Boo-berries and pumpkins

This year I'm giving seed starting (yet) another chance.  Every year, I try to start my own seedlings for transplant; however, the blasted things never take or just don't like to be transplanted.  This time around I got a heat mat for my eggplant and pepper seeds, something I didn't have when I tried two seasons ago.  I'm going to give the seed experience another go tonight after dinner.  While this is an epic moment it brought about utter chaos.

If I start these seeds then where will they live?  How many should I start?  And the plan I had created back in January went out the window....not just because of thinking about seedlings but because I picked up a few things while out and about over the last few weekends.  Namely blueberry plants and pumpkin seeds....and not to mention the red and blue corn seeds...oh! and more sunflower seeds...can't forget those...

The blueberry plants are now occupying the self-watering containers (SWC) I had planned for the pepper plants and well the pumpkins and corn seeds...they're hanging out for the moment.  That brings me to the present.  I've cut out pictures of all the seeds and plants I'm planning for this year's garden out of an extra Burpee's catalog.  I'm planning on taping them (or somehow arranging them) onto an over-sized piece of paper as an impromptu planning guide.  But then, I'm getting into the dilemma of finding out I might not have enough pots for this year's idea unless I get/make more...what's a girl to do?

Getting rev'd up

Hello there fellow gardeners!  How's the weather holding up in your neck of the woods?  It doesn't know what it wants to do here.  For a good week, the sun was shining and the thermometer read 50 degrees (which for here means flip flop weather, seriously...I saw people wearing flip flops).  However, it caused the ground to warm slightly.  Enough to signal my crocus that its time to bloom.  Now we're getting a nice batch of snow with low temperatures to boot.  The crocus were just starting to break the surface so hopefully they survive.

The cats finally figured out the array of pots filled with their very own grasses to nibble on.  I had to pick up extra eco-friendly pots (they're not plastic but do disintegrate if planted in the ground) for sowing more since the fatty of the bunch decided to eat the whole large pot by himself.  The pots are tiny and are different colors; however, I should've added rocks or weights to the bottom because the cats have a tendency to yank on the whole blade of grass tipping the pot over in the process.

Speaking of pots....my herbs aren't growing in their little seedling pots.  The seeds are from last season, for some plants that's not good, but most of these have a longer shelf life.  Who knows?  Maybe I should just pick up another batch of seeds and try again.  It will give me a great excuse to go to the local nursery to check out the preseason seed sales and pick up a heat mat.  I'm planning on trying to start my own eggplant and pepper seeds this year.  Reading the gardening books have told me that they need a heat supply to germinate so I'll give it a go.  If anything, the nursery carries my fav plants come April/May for transplanting so there's always that to fall back on.

All it needs is love...

Pots for the herbs

     Oy, a busy week so far.  I know I'm a day behind getting the blog up.  However, I have started some of the slower growing herbs for this year's garden.  I'm using the biodegradable Jiffy pots with seed mix this year.  In the back is a dish with the oats for the cats so they'll leave the regular plants alone.  Since the seeds are so small for the herbs I did a mass spread and will thin them as needed.  Here's to this year's batch of herbs :)

Chocolate sunflower

     Not only that but I went through all the flower seeds and discovered another batch of chocolate sunflower seeds. *evil grin*  Last year only two of the seeds took with some spectacular flowers that lasted through the summer.  I'm looking forward to planting those come April.  I also have some chocolate violas, columbines and pincushion flowers.  Who knows, maybe I'll set up an area in the yard for a chocolate themed garden, not just in visual appeal but scent as well.  We'll see what boyfriend thinks of that idea....

The newest addition to the houseplants

     On a side note, I found a small plant abandoned to the doom that is known as Walmart's garden center.  They are generally horrible with their plants especially in our area because they built the new Walmart with the garden center in the direction of the wind patterns.  There's a history of said wind taking down hundred year old trees and power lines, so of course it's a genius idea to put the plants on the windy side of the building...The poor plant sat in the back room trying to survive in it's paper cup near other clearance plants such as glitterized trees for the holiday season and wilted ferns.  I repotted it in one of the smaller self watering containers and there's new growth so the outlook is hopeful.  It's a really pretty plant and I need something in the office that can survive low light.

Reflect on the environment

As a gardener we have a close link with the environment as seen in the growth of food for our families as well as ornamental plants, shrubs, and flowers in our garden spaces.  However, what are we doing to protect and invigorate the environment?  While writing this post I'm watching the 2009 PBS Frontline special Poisoned Waters.  It raises an all important question, what are we doing to our drinking water, estuaries, and waterways? The agricultural industry (to include animal farms) provides the largest contribution to water pollution and waste that comes in the form of excess fertilizer and manures that makes their way into the water.

I live a few blocks from Lake Michigan.  There are times when people are not allowed in the water due to waste seepage from further up the shore.  My boyfriend remembers a time when the fish in the lake were deemed inedible for human consumption.  It's all well and dandy to meet regulation requirements, but what about going above and beyond standards?  While I'm not a country homesteader, I am an urban gardener and even though I am just one person among seven billion people in this world, I can still make an impact by implementing eco-friendly measures in my garden.

How about you?

Fun in the house

The snow just keeps coming giving us nothing to do outside.  As a result we've taken to giving a lot of attention to the houseplants, which at times can be messy...Case in point putting the ivy into a bigger pot last night.  The poor thing needed a new home; however, now it's in the jungle of the dining room instead of its lone window in the kitchen.  The humidity of the sink and the sunshine caused a massive growth spurt for the plant.  However, it now has to deal with the cramped space; however, there are three plant lights (yes, I said three) in the dining room for all the foliage.  My boyfriend jokes that we should release the zebra finches and get a water feature to make it into a tropical aviary complete with ambiance.  I don't know how I feel about that...

But I do have to figure something out about all the plants since I'm going to be starting seedlings soon and my citrus plants should be here in March/April.  I know, I know that's a few months away but sometimes I forget (aka procrastinate) about projects, so the sooner the better.  In addition, we've been eyeballing the small plants at the local supermarkets and stores.  Only because when you walk into my mother-in-laws apartment there are a butt-ton of plants to the point where they're on the floor.  I'm slightly jealous but then I'm not the greatest with houseplants.  I have a tendency to kill them....oops. 

What are you doing to keep busy this January?  Are you looking at the discounted plants as well?

It's windy out there...

Right after my Wednesday post we got hit by snow.  Several inches later...my snapdragons are buried and the ground looks sparkly at night.  In the backyard, there are trails from the local cats traipsing through my garden area.  Come summer you'll find a cat napping on top the compost bin enjoying the radiating heat.  But for now there's only their prints in the snow.  And since I'm not a big fan of blustery winds that chill to the bone, you'll find me warm and cozy in the house snuggled with a cat of my own :)  Enjoy the upcoming week and stay warm!

A hanging basket on the front porch....

Poor snapdragons, they tried so hard to adapt to winter in Wisconsin...

Saving newspaper

This morning was recycling; however, not all the newspaper went out with our blue bin.  Nope, I'm saving some of the paper for making my own seedling pots.  I get two Sunday papers for the coupons each week, which results in a lot of newspaper and advertisement inserts.  A few weeks back, as I flipped through one of my garden books I came across creating your own seedling pots using newspaper.  Genius idea!  So I'm scrounging up the paper that doesn't have color ink only the atypical black and white for making said pots. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but at least the thought is there.

I have in the past used the seed trays that come in those kits at the big box hardware stores; however, I always run into a case of dampening off.  I have no idea what's running amuck.  So I'm trying a new approach.  We'll see how it goes...